U.  S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE, 

BUREAU  OP  SOILS— MILTON  WHITNEY,  Chief. 

IN  COOPERATION  WITH  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  MINNESOTA  AGRICULTURAL 

EXPERIMENT  STATION,  R.  W.  THATCHER,  DIRECTOR; 

F.  J.  ALWAY,  PROFESSOR  OF  SOILS. 


SOIL  SURVEY  OF  ANOKA  COUNTY, 
MINNESOTA. 


BY 


WILLIAM  G.  SMITH,  of  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture, 

Jn  Charge,  and  GEORGE  H.  NESOM  and  E.  G.  ROTH, 

OF  THE  University  of  Minnesota. 


THOMAS  D.  RICE,  Inspector,  Northern  Division. 


[Advance  Sheets— Field  Operations  of  the  Bureau  of  Soils,  1916.] 


UCLA  SEUGeology  Collection 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OmOE. 

1918. 


BUREAU  OF  SOILS. 


Milton  Whitney,  Chief  of  Bureau. 
Albebt  G.  Rice,  Chief  Clerk. 

SOIL   SUBVEY. 

CuBTis*  F.  Maebut,  In  Charge. 
G.  W.  Baxjmann,  Executive  Assistant. 

COMMITTEE  ON    THE  COBKELATION    AND   CLASSIFICATION   OF    SOILS. 

CuKTis  F.  Maebut,  Chairman. 
Hugh  H.  Bennett,   Inspector,  -  Southern  Division. 
W.  Edwabd  Heakn,   Inspector,   Southern  Division, 
Thomas  D.  Rice,  Inspector,  Northern  Division. 
W.  E.  McLendon,  Inspector,  Northern  Division. 
Macy  H.  Lapham,  Inspector,  Western  Division. 

J.  W.  McKebichee,  Secretary. 


U.  S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE, 

BUREAU  OF  SOILS— MILTON  WHITNEY,  CMef. 

IN  COOPERATION  WITH  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  MINNESOTA  AGRICULTURAL 

EXPERIMENT  STATION,  R.  W.  THATCHER,  DIRECTOR; 

F.  J.  ALWAY,  PROFESSOR  OF  SOILS. 


SOIL  SURVEY  OF  ANOKA  COUNTY, 
MINNESOTA. 


BY 


WILLLAM  G.  SMITH,  of  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Ageiculture, 
In  Charge,  and  GEORGE  H.  NESOM  and  E.  G.  EOTH, 

OF  THE  UxiVERSITY  OF  ^IlXNESOTA. 


THOMAS  D.  RICE,  Inspector,  Northern  Division. 


[Adrance  Sheets— Field  Operations  of  the  Bureau  of  Soils,  1916.] 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFIOE. 

1318. 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL 


U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture, 

Bureau  of  Soils, 
Washington,  D.  C,  February  21,  1918. 
Sir:  Under   the  cooperative   agreement   with   the   University   of 
Minnesota  a  soil  survey  of  Anoka  County  was  completed  during  the 
field  season  of  1916. 

I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  the  manuscript  and  map 
covering  this  work  and  to  recommend  their  publication  as  advance 
sheets  of  Field  Operations  of  the  Bureau  of  Soils  for  1916,  as  au- 
thorized by  law. 

Respectfully, 

Milton  Whitney, 

Chief  of  Bureau. 
Hon.  D.  F.  Houston, 

Secretary  of  Agriculture, 
2 


5^1^ 
Geol. 
Lib. 

S 
Mai 


CONTENTS. 


Soil  Survey  of  Anoka  County,  Minnesota.     By  William  G.  Smith,  of 
THE  U.   S.   Department  of  Agriculture,   In  Charge,  and  George  H. 

Nesom  and  E.  G.  Roth,  of  the  University  of  Minnesota 5 

Description  of  the  area 5 

Climate 7 

Agriculture 9 

Soils : 14 

Miami  fine  sandy  luara 17 

Miami  loam 18 

Gloucester  fine  sandy  loam 19 

Gloucester  loam 20 

Hinckley  gravelly  sandy  loam 21 

Hinckley  fine  sand 22 

Merrimac  loamy  sand 22 

Merrimac  loamy  fine  sand 24 

Buckner  loamy  fine  sand 25 

Peat • 26 

Summaiy 29 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

figure. 
Fig.  1.  Sketch  map  showing  location  of  the  Anoka  County  area,  Minnesota. . 

MAP. 

Soil  map,  Anoka  County  sheet,  Minnesota. 


SOIL  SURVEY  OF  ANOKA  COUNTY,  MINNESOTA. 


By  WILIIAM  G.  SMITH,  of  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  In  Charge,  and 
GEORGE  H.  NESOM  and  E.  G.  ROTH,  of  the  University  of  Minnesota. — Area 
Inspected  by  THOMAS  D.  RICE. 

DESCRIPTIOX   OF   THE   AREA, 

Anoka  County  is  situated  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Minnesota, 
a  few  miles  north  of  Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul.  It  is  bounded  on 
the  north  bv  Isanti  County,  on  the  east  by  Chisago  and  Washington 
Counties,  on  the  south  by  Ramsey  and  Hennepin  Counties,  and  on 
the  west  by  Sherburne  County.  The 
Mississippi  Eiver  flows  between  Anoka 
and  Hennepin  Counties.  The  area  in- 
cluded is  431  square  miles,  or  275,840 
acres. 

The  topography  of  Anoka  County  in 
general  is  that  of  a  modified  plain.  In 
the  northwestern  part  there  is  a  rela- 
tively small  area  of  rather  rough  mo- 
rainic-hill  country,  and  a  smaller  total 
area  of  hilly  country  occurs  in  the  ex- 
treme southern  part.  The  remainder  of 
the  county  has  the  appearance  of  a 
fairly  flat  to  gently  rolling  upland 
plain.  In  all  sections  of  the  county  there  occur  numerous  level  areas 
of  peat  land,  lying  2  to  10  feet  or  more  below  the  general  level  of 
the  upland.  These  are  much  more  extensive  in  the  eastern  half  of 
the  county.  "With  a  few  exceptions  the  upland  slopes  bordering  the 
peat  areas  are  long  and  gentle.  Along  the  Mississippi  and  Rum 
Rivers  there  is  a  small  development  of  terrace  land  lying  from  2 
to  15  feet  above  overflow  level.  There  is  practically  no  bottom  land 
subject  to  overflow  in  the  count}^ 

In  the  southeast  part  of  Fridley  Township  and  in  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  county  some  small  areas  reach  an  elevation  of  1,0G0 
feet  above  sea  level,  but  the  greater  part  of  the  county  comes  well 
within  a  range  of  about  850  to  .950  feet  above  sea  level,  coinciding 
m  a  general  way  with  the  distribution  of  deep  sandy  soil  and  in- 
cluding in  addition  considerable  areas  around  Centerville  and  Now- 
then.  The  greater  part  of  this  lower  lying  land  has  a  slight  south- 
westward  slope.  Practically  all  of  the  county  is  drained  into  the 
Mississippi  Eiver  by  streams  having  a  southerly  and  southwesterly 

5 


Fig.  1. — Sketch  map  showing 
location  of  the  Anoka  County 
area,  Minn. 


6  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU    OF   SOILS,   1916. 

course.  The  most  important  interior  stream  is  the  Rum  River, 
which  drains  the  western  half  of  the  county  and  flows  into  the  Mis- 
sissippi River  at  Anoka.  The  eastern  half  of  the  county  is  largely 
drained  by  Coon  Creek  and  Rice  Creek,  which  empty  into  the  Mis- 
sissippi River  a  few  miles  below  Anoka.  Numerous  lakes  and  ponds 
throughout  the  county  serve  as  catchment  basins  or  reservoirs  and 
for  the  most  part  connect  with  natural  drainage  ways,  with  usually 
rather  sluggish  currents.  Part  of  the  northeastern  section  of  the 
county  is  drained  to  the  east  by  Hurley  Creek  and  its  tributaries. 

Practically  all  of  the  county  except  the  peat  areas  is  well  drained, 
but  there  is  an  almost  entire  lack  of  erosion.  Excess  rainfall  is 
largely  carried  to  the  peat  areas  through  natural  drainage  depres- 
sions. The  streams  afford  fairly  adequate  drainage  for  much  of  the 
peat  area  in  seasons  of  normal  or  subnormal  rainfall,  but  in  seasons 
of  unusually  heavy  precipitation  the  drainage  is  in.-.iifhcient  to  re- 
move the  excess  water  until  late  in  summer. 

The  various  streams  have  not  cut  xevy  deeply  below  the  general 
upland  level.  Even  the  Rum  River  and  the  Mississippi  River  flow 
only  about  5  to  25  feet  below  the  upland.  The  water  in  both  these 
streams  is  comparatively  shallow  and  has  a  fairly  rapid  current. 
The  cutting  or  deepening  of  the  channels  that  is  taking  place  to 
some  extent  along  the  larger  streams  is  largely  offset  by  the  redeposi- 
tion  of  transported  material,  aided  somewhat  by  artificial  dams. 
Except  after  heavy  rains  all  the  streams  have  comparatively  clear 
water. 

Water  power  is  developed  on  the  Rum  River  at  Anoka  and  St. 
Francis  for  grinding  flour.  At  'Coon  Rapids,  on  the  Mississippi 
River,  a  large  hydro-electric  power  plant  is  operated.  Good  water 
for  domestic  use  is  abundant  throughout  the  county.  In  many  places 
it  can  be  obtained  in  driven  wells  at  15  to  30  feet  below  the  surface. 
Bored  wells  find  a  supply  at  about  100  feet.  In  the  vicinity  of  Cen- 
terville  there  are  a  few  flowing  artesian  wells,  which  give  excellent 
drinking  water. 

That  part  of  the  State  in  which  Anoka  County  is  included  was 
organized  into  counties  by  the  first  Territorial  legislature  in  1819. 
In  1857  the  boundaries  of  Anoka  County  were  fixed  almost  as  they 
remain  to-day,  and  Anoka  was  made  the  county  seat.  The  population 
increased  from  5,108  in  1880  to  9,884  in  1890,  11,313  in  1900,  and 
12,493  in  1910.  Approximately  77  per  cent  of  the  population  con- 
sists of  native-born  and  23  per  cent  of  foreign-born  Avhites.  The 
principal  foreign  nationalities  represented  are  Swedish,  German, 
Norwegian,  and  Canadian.  All  the  population  outside  the  city  of 
Anoka,  or  68.2  per  cent  of  the  total,  is  classed  as  rural.  This  gives 
an  average  density  of  18.6  persons  to  the  square  mile.  The  western 
half  of  the  county  includes  the  greater  part  of  the  population.    In  a 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF   ANOKA    COUNTY,    MINN.  7 

general  way  the  distribution  of  the  farming  population  follows  quite 
closely  the  well-drained  upland  areas. 

Anoka,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  county,  on  the  Mississippi 
Eiver,  had  a  population  in  1910  of  3,972.  Besides  being  the  county 
seat,  it  is  the  business  center  of  the  county.  Columbia  Heights,  a 
suburb  of  Minneapolis,  is  the  next  largest  settlement.  Smaller  towns 
and  villages  are  scattered  throughout  the  county. 

Main  lines  of  the  Great  Northern  and  Northern  Pacific  Railways 
traverse  the  county  along  the  Mississippi  Valley,  passing  through 
Anoka.  What  is  locally  known  as  the  Duluth  Branch  of  the  Great 
Northern  Railway  extends  north  and  south  through  the  central  part 
of  the  county.  The  eastern  tier  of  townships  is  within  nearer  reach 
of  the  Twin  City-Duluth  Branch  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway, 
which  extends  north  and  south  a  few  miles  beyond  the  east  county 
line.  An  electric  railway  connects  Minneapolis  with  Anoka  and  vari- 
ous other  points  within  the  county. 

Country  roads  extend  through  all  parts  of  the  county.  The  public- 
road  system  is  somewhat  less  extensive  within  the  larger  peat  areas, 
but  in  general  all  the  farming  communities  have  ready  access  to 
points  on  railway  lines.  Owing  to  the  deep,  sandj^^  character  of  much 
of  the  upland,  the  unsurfaced  roads  are  at  times  very  loose  and  hard 
to  travel.  In  the  peat-land  sections  it  is  often  necessary  to  haul 
road-making  material  long  distances,  as  the  peat  material  is  unsuit- 
able for  surfacing.  An  extensive  program  of  road  improvement  is 
planned  by  the  local  government,  and  some  of  the  work  is  under  way. 
Most  of  the  farms  are  provided  with  telephone  service,  and  many 
farmers  own  automobiles.  Country  and  town  schools  are  numerous 
and  well  located  to  serve  all  parts  of  the  county.  At  Anoka  and 
St.  Francis  there  are  well-equipped  consolidated  schools. 

All  the  towns  and  villages  in  the  county  serve  to  some  extent  as 
markets  and  trading  points.  The  surplus  products  find  ready  sale  in 
Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul,  Avhich  are  reached  by  steam  or  electric 
railway,  wagons,  and  autotrucks. 

CLIMATE. 

The  records  of  the  Weather  Bureau  station  at  Minneapolis  are 
considered  representative  of  the  climatic  conditions  in  Anoka 
County.  The  mean  annual  precipitation  as  shown  by  these  records 
is  29.31  inches,  of  which  nearly  74  per  cent  falls  during  the  crop- 
growing  season,  from  April  to  September  inclusive.  The  average 
monthly  precipitation  during  this  period  is  rather  uniform,  ranging 
from  about  2|  to  4  inches.  Most  of  the  precipitation  comes  as  gentle 
rains,  with  sufficient  frequency  to  insure  normal  growth  of  farm 
crops.  Occasionally,  however,  continued  cold  rains  in  the  spring 
delay  spring  or  early  summer  seeding,  and  occasional  heavy  rain- 


8 


FIELD   OPERATIONS  OF   THE   BUREAU   OF   SOILS,  1916. 


storms,  sometimes  almost  cloudbursts,  as  well  as  rather  long  dry 
spells,  may  occur  during  the  growing  season.  The  precipitation  in 
the  driest  year  on  record  (1910)  was  11.59  inches,  and  in  the  wettest 
year  (1868),  41.64  inches.  The  average  annual  snowfall  amounts  to 
41.8  inches.    Snow  often  covers  the  ground  for  long  periods. 

The  mean  annual  temperature  is  44.7°  F.  The  mean  temperature 
for  the  summer  is  69.6°  F.,  and  for  the  winter  16.5°  F.  The  lowest 
temperature  on  record  is  — 33°  F.,  reached  in  both  January  and 
February,  and  the  highest  temperature  recorded  is  102°  F.,  in  July. 

The  average  date  of  the  last  killing  frost  in  the  spring  is  April 
28,  and  that  of  the  first  in  the  fall  October  8.  The  average  growing 
season  is  thus  163  days  in  length,  and  is  sufficient  for  maturing  all 
the  comm(m  crops.  The  latest  killing  frost  recorded  in  the  spring 
occurred  on  May  20,  and  the  earliest  in  the  fall  on  September  13. 
Corn,  the  crop  most  subject  to  injury,  is  almost  invariably  matured 
even  in  years  with  abnormnlly  short  growing  seasons. 

Fall  and  spring  winds  sometimes  do  considerable  injury  on  the 
sandy  soils  of  the  county,  even  after  the  young  growth  of  grain  or 
other  crops  is  fairly  well  started.  Small  fruits  such  as  strawberries, 
raspberries,  and  grapes  are  subject  to  injury  from  the  alternate 
freezing  and  thawing  that  takes  place  throughout  the  winter,  un- 
less protected  by  a  snow  cover.  A  good  depth  of  snow  can  not  be 
relied  upon,  and  the  plants  are  usually  protected  by  a  covering 
of  straw  or  soil  applied  in  the  fall.  Exposed  grass  and  clover 
fields  may  occasionally  be  winter-killed. 

The  following  table,  compiled  from  the  records  of  the  Weather 
Bureau  station  at  Minneapolis,  shows  in  detail  certain  climatic 
.data  applicable  to  Anoka  County: 

Normal  monthly,  fteasonal,  and  annual  temperature  and  precipitation  at 
Minneapolis,  Hennepin  County. 


Temperature. 

Precipitation. 

Month. 

Mean. 

Absolute 
maxi- 
mum. 

Absolute 
mini- 
mum. 

Mean. 

Total 
amount 
for  th^ 
driest 
year 
(1910). 

Total 
amount 

for  the 

wettest 

year 

(1868). 

Snow, 
average 
depth. 

°F. 
20.4 
13.7 
15.3 

°F. 
56 
52 
64 

•F. 
-27 
-33 
-33 

Inchrx. 

0.95 

.69 

.73 

Inches. 

0.31 

1.08 

.51 

Inches. 
0.55 
1.96 
1.75 

Inches. 
6.4 

8.3 

8.6 

Winter 

16.5 

64 

-33 

2.37 

1.90 

4.26 

23.3 

29.5 
46.7 
57.4 

S3 
S6 
93 

-17 
12 
22 

1.65 
2.44 
3.92 

.09 

.64 

1.39 

9.00 
2.01 
4.37 

9.5 

4.0 

May 

0.2 

44  5 

93 

-17 

8.01 

2.12 



15. 38 

13.7 

SOIL   SURVEY   OF  ANOKA   COUNTY,   MINN.  9 

Normal    monthly,    seasonal,    and    annual    temperature    and    precipitation    at 
Minneapolis,  Hennepin  County — Continued. 


Temperature. 

Precipitation. 

Month. 

Mean. 

Absohite 
ma.xi- 
mum. 

Absolute 
mini- 
mum. 

Mean. 

Total 

amount 

for  the 

driest 

year 
(1910). 

Total 
amount 
for  the 
wettest 

year 
(iS6S). 

Snow, 
average 
depth. 

June 

67.4 
71.8 
69.5 

°F. 
98 
102 
99 

'■F. 
36 
44 
42 

Ivches. 
4.01 
3.81 
3.69 

Inches. 

1.24 

.74 

1.56 

Inches. 
4.23 
3.09 
2.81 

Inches. 
0 
0 
0 

July 

August 

Summer 

69.6 

102 

36 

11.51 

3.54 

10.13 

0 

62.1 

49.8 
33.0 

97 
86 
73 

29 

16 

-13 

3.66 
2.58 
1.18 

2.58 
.86 
.59 

2.82 
4.92 
4.13 

T 

0.3 
4.5 

Fall 

48.3 

97 

-13 

7.42 

4.03 

11.87 

4  8 

Year 

44.7 

102 

-33 

29.31 

11.59 

41.64 

41  8 

AGRICULTURE. 

The  first  settlers  in  tliis  county  found  much  of  tlie  upland  fairly 
well  timbered,  with  oak  as  the  dominant  growth.  There  was  some 
merchantable  pine  in  the  north-central  part  of  the  county,  and  much 
of  the  peat  land  supported  a  large  growth  of  tamarack,  the  remainder 
being  largely  open  marsh.  A  narrow  strip  of  upland  bordering  the 
Mississippi  River  was  open  prairie,  the  last  coinciding  in  a  general 
way  with  the  distribution  of  the  Merrimac  loamy  sand.  The  first 
white  settlers  are  said  to  have  come  into  the  county  as  early  as  1844. 
By  1860  several  farms  were  established,  small  grains,  corn,  and 
potatoes  being  produced  in  conjunction  with  the  raising  of  live 
stock.  The  early  settlers  cut  most  of  the  merchantable  pine  for  lum- 
ber and  the  red  oak  and  tamarack  for  railway  crossties  and  cord- 
wood.  There  is  still  considerable  forest  growth  in  the  county,  but 
this  is  in  the  form  of  farm  woodlots  rather  than  a  source  of  mer- 
chantable forest  products. 

Corn  and  potatoes  apparently  were  jfirst  grown  in  1848.  In  1859 
the  products  of  the  county  included  34,734  bushels  of  potatoes,  40,411 
bushels  of  corn,  8,762  bushels  of  wheat,  9,917  bushels  of  oats,  and  315 
bushels  of  rye.  The  Colorado  potato  beetle  made  its  appearance  in 
1866,  and  by  1869  the  production  of  potatoes  had  been  reduced  to 
less  than  one-half  that  of  1859.  The  production  of  wheat  had 
trebled  during  this  decade,  and  all  other  crops  had  increased  in  acre- 
age and  production.  By  1879  the  use  of  paris  green  to  control  the 
potato  bug  had  become  common,  and  potatoes  have  since  remained 

46658°— 18 2 


10  FIELD  OPERATIOXS   OF    THE   BUREAU   OF    SOILS,   1916. 

one  of  the  most  important  products  of  the  county.  In  1864  the  fir^it 
railroad  line  was  built  through  the  county,  and  the  improvement  in 
transportation  facilities  greatly  stimulated  agriculture. 

In  1879  about  9  per  cent  of  the  area  of  the  county  was  in  crops. 
About  42  per  cent  of  the  cropped  land  was  in  hay,  28  per  cent  in 
wheat,  16  per  cent  in  corn,  and  7  per  cent  in  oats.  The  1890  census 
showed  an  increase  of  59  per  cent  in  crop  acreage.  About  50  per 
cent  of  the  cropped  area  was  occupied  by  hay,  20  per  cent  by  corn, 
15  per  cent  by  oats,  7  per  cent  by  potatoes,  and  4  per  cent  by  rye. 
In  1899  about  66,000  acres,  or  over  22  per  cent  of  the  area  of  the 
county,  was  in  crops.  About  29  per  cent  of  the  farmed  area  was  in 
wild  hay,  17  per  cent  in  corn,  13  per  cent  in  rye,  12  per  cent  in  oats, 
,11  per  cent  in  tame  hay,  10  per  cent  in  potatoes,  and  7  pej^  cent  in 
wheat.  The  value  of  dairy  products  sold  in  1899  amounted  to 
$118,687,  of  animals  sold  or  slaughtered  to  $103,101,  and  of  poultry 
and  eggs  produced  to  $25,639.  The  1910  census  reports  71,601  acres, 
or  almost  one-fourth  the  area  of  the  county,  as  being  cultivated  or 
used  for  hay  production.  About  26  per  cent  of  the  cropped  land 
was  occupied  by  wild  hay,  17  per  cent  by  corn,  15  per  cent  by  tame 
grasses,  15  per  cent  by  potatoes,  13  per  cent  by  oats,  8  per  cent  by 
rye,  and  2  per  cent  by  wheat. 

The  value  of  all  crops  produced  in  1909  is  reported  by  the  census 
as  $1,118,212.  On  the  basis  of  value  of  production  the  most  important 
class  of  crops  is  vegetables,  chiefly  potatoes.  Potatoes  were  grown 
on  10,756  acres  in  1909  and  produced  1,255,880  bushels,  or  an  average 
of  116.7  bushels  per  acre.  Miscellaneous  vegetables  were  grown  on 
482  acres.  The  value  of  all  vegetables  produced  amounted  to  $406,395. 
The  area  in  potatoes  increased  by  58  per  cent  from  1899  to  1909.  The 
crop  is  gi'own  principally  as  a  source  of  revenue,  and  is  shipped 
largely  to  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis. 

The  value  of  all  cereal  and  seed  crops  produced  in  1909  amounted 
to  $402,818.'  Gorn  occupied  12,075  acres  and  produced  375,378 
bushels,  averaging  31.1  bushels  per  acre.  Oats  occupied  9.668  acres 
and  produced  278,498  bushels,  or  28.8  bushels  per  acre.  Rye,  which 
was  grow^n  on  5,500  acres,  produced  77,062  bushels,  the  yield  aver- 
aging 14  bushels  per  acre.  Wheat  occupied  1,523  acres,  producing 
28,487  bushels,  an  average  of  18.7  bushels  per  acre.  Barley  was  grown 
on  613  acres,  beans  on  294  acres,  emmer  and  spelt  on  154  acres,  and 
buckwheat  on  49  acres.  Cereal  and  grain  crops  are  grown  mainly  for 
use  on  the  farm.  Much  of  the  corn  crpp  is  put  in  silos  and  used  to 
feed  stock,  principally  dairy  cows. 

Hay  and  forage  were  produced  in  1909  to  the  value  of  $236,258. 
Wild  hay,  cut  mainly  from  peat  land,  occupied  18,503  acres  and 
produced  22,814  tons,  an  average  of  1.23  tons  per  acre.  Tame  or 
cultivated   hay   crops,   consisting   almost   entirely   of   timothy   and 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF   ANOKA   COUNTY,   MINN.  11 

clover,  collectively  occupied  11,001  acres  and  produced  16,542  tons,  or 
1.5  tons  per  acre.  Owing  to  the  high  prices  often  paid  in  St.  Paul 
and  Minneapolis  for  hay,  part  of  the  crop  is  sold.  The  second  cutting 
of  clover  grown  alone  is  used  for  seed,  which  is  also  sold.  The  seed 
yields  about  2  to  3  bushels  per  acre,  and  sells  for  $7  to  $10  a  bushel. 
The  census  reports  a  valuation  of  $60,114  under  the  heading  of  "  all 
other  crops."  This  probabl}-  consists  largely  of  revenue  derived  from 
the  sale  of  wire  grass  cut  from  jvet  peat  land,  or  what  is  commonly 
termed  marsh,  the  product  being  used  in  the  manufacture  of  grass 
matting.  The  area  cut  over  for  wire  grass  is  probably  about  4,000 
acres. 

The  1910  census  reports  2,992  apple  trees  and  2.784  plum  trees  in 
the  county.  Small  fruits  occupied  81  acres.  Sixtj^-seven  acres  were 
in  strawberries,  which  produced  106,523  quarts  in  1909,  and  10  acres 
in  raspberries,  which  produced  7,360  quarts.  The  value  of  all  fruits 
produced  amounted  to  $12,597. 

The  census  reports  the  value  of  live  stock  and  live-stock  products 
produced  in  1909  as  $566,137.  Dairy  products,  excluding  that  por- 
tion used  in  the  home,  amounted  in  value  to  $285,363 ;  animals  were 
sold  or  slaughtered  to  the  value  of  $171,829 ;  poultry  and  eggs  pro- 
duced amounted  in  value  to  $107,966;  and  $979  worth  of  wool  was 
clipped.  The  1910  census  reports  8,649  milch  cows  in  the  countj^, 
6,949  other  cattle,  4,756  horses,  4,396  hogs,  and  1,318  sheep.  Hogs  are 
raised  in  connection  with  dairying,  and  sold  on  the  near-by  city 
markets.  Practically  every  farmer  keeps  some  milch  cows.  The 
product  is  sold  mainly  in  the  form  of  either  whole  milk  or  cream. 
Some  of  it  is  sold  to  local  creameries.  A  considerable  proportion 
goes  direct  to  the  Twin  City  markets,  being  collected  by  motor 
trucks  or  wagons  which  follow  specified  routes.  A  powdered-milk 
factory  at  Anoka  uses  a  large  proportion  of  the  whole  milk  pro- 
duced in  a  wide  surrounding  territor3\  Several  creameries  in  various 
sections  of  the  county  have  beea  discontinued. 

Crop  production  in  Anoka  County  is  practically  restricted  to  the 
upland.  The  use  of  the  peat  and  marsh  areas  is  in  general  limited 
to  the  cutting  of  wild  hay,  the  cutting  of  wire  grass  to  be  used  in 
grass-matting  manufacture,  and  pasturage.  Any  extensive  cultiva- 
tion of  the  peat  land  is  necessarily  dependent  upon  artificial  drain- 
age, which  has  already'  been  done  to  some  extent.  At  present  there 
is  no  particular  recognition  of  the  adaptation  of  the  various  soils 
to  certain  crops.  The  soils  with  cla}'  subsoils  are  known  to  be  more 
durable  than  those  of  deep  sandy  character,  but  the  same  crops  are 
grown  on  both  kinds  of  land. 

Practically  all  the  annual  crops  are  spring  sown  except  rye, 
which  is  usually  seeded  in  September.  On  the  heavier  soils,  which 
are  not  so  subject  to  wind  erosion  or  drifting,  early  fall  plowing  may 


12  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU    OF   SOILS,   1916. 

be  advantageous,  as  the  severe  freezing  and  thawing  process  which 
takes  place  until  early  spring  improves  the  physical  condition  of  the 
soils,  especially  the  clayey  types.  For  the  most  part  preparation  of 
the  sandy  soils  for  spring  or  early  summer  seeding  is  deferred  imtil 
spring.  Small  grain  is  seeded  usually  in  April,  potatoes  in  May  or 
June,  and  corn  in  Jime.  The  small  grains  sown  in  the  spring 
mature  in  late  July  and  early  August.  Rye  is  harvested  three  or  four 
weeks  earlier.  About  the  last  of  Augjjst  corn  can  be  cut  for  ensilage, 
and  the  first  weeks  in  September  usually  find  most  of  it  ripened. 
Potatoes  are  dug  in  August  and  September,  or  later. 

Improved  machinery  is  largely  used  in  seeding  and  harvesting 
crops.  Single  walking  plows  and  riding  gang  plows  of  standard 
makes  are  used,  drawn  by  2  to  6  horse  teams.  Drills  are  invariably 
used  in  seeding  small  grain,  and  in  many  instances  machines  are  used 
in  planting  potatoes.  Potato-digging  machines  requiring  5  or  6 
horse  draft  are  in  use  on  many  farms.  Small  grains  and  corn  are 
harvested  with  binders.  AVindmills  and  gas  engines  are  in  common 
use  for  pumping  water,  and  small  gas  engines  are  sometimes  employed 
in  grinding  feed.  Large  traction  engines,  both  of  steam  and  gaso- 
line power,  are  kept  by  some  farmers  who  have  grain  and  clover 
separators  and  ensilage  cutters.  Large  draft  types  of  horses  are 
commonly  used  in  plowing  and  in  tillage  operations,  as  traction 
engines  of  the  ordinary  wheel  types  are  not  well  suited  to  use  on  the 
sandy  lands.  Caterpillar  tractors  might  prove  serviceable  on  sandy 
soils  as  well  as  on  peat  lands,  but  there  are  only  one  or  two  in  the 
county. 

Most  of  the  intertillage  of  row^  crops,  such  as  potatoes  and  corn,  is 
done  inlate  June,  July,  and  early  August.  For  the  most  part  much 
attention  is  given  to  this  work,  horse-drawn  riding  cultivators  being 
used  to  good  advantage.  Most  of  the  soils  seem  to  have  an  abund- 
ance of  weed  seeds,  which  sprout  and  produce  a  luxuriant  growth  if 
given  but  slight  opportunity.  Summer  fallowing  is  almost  imprac- 
ticable except  on  the  heavier  soils,  the  sandy  types  being  too  much 
subject  to  drifting  by  the  wind.  Smothering  by  grass  sod  and 
1  borough  cultivation  seem  to  be  the  most  promising  methods  of  keep- 
ing row  crops  clean. 

Practically  all  the  farmers  practice  some  form  of  crop  rotation 
in  which  clover  is  included.  The  rotation  in  most  common  use  may 
be  outlined  as  follows:  A  small  grain  is  drilled  in  in  the  spring, 
with  clover  Or  mixed  clover  and  timothy  sown  either  by  means  of 
an  attachment  on  the  grain  drill  or  put  in  later  with  a  wheel-harrow 
seeder  or  broadcasted  by  hand.  Under  normal  conditions  the  grass 
comes  up  well  in  the  stubble  after  late-summer  cutting  of  the  small 
grain.    The  following  season  hay  is  usually  cut,  and  the  grass  sod 


SOIL   SURVEY    OF   ANOKA   COUNTY,   MINN,  13 

may  be  retained  for  tAvo  years  or  more.  The  sod  may  be  fall  plowed 
on  the  heavier  soils,  but  on  the  light  sandy  soils  spring  plowing  is 
better.  The  land  is  disked  and  harrowed  in  preparation  for  late  May 
and  early  June  planting  of  corn.  Where  potatoes  follow  com 
part  of  the  land  under  rotation  is  available  for  some  other  crop, 
and  it  is  usually  put  in  a  small  grain.  Where  potatoes  follow  the 
tame  grasses  the  unused  land  is  planted  in  corn.  Some  farmers  are 
very  positive  that  potatoes  do  better  following  clover  or  clover  and 
timothy  mixed  than  when  made  to  follow  a  cultivated  crop,  such  as 
corn,  but  good  results  seem  to  follow  with  either  practice,  and  in 
any  case  at  least  four  years  usually  intervenes  before  potatoes  are 
again  planted  in  the  same  field. 

Commercial  fertilizers  are  used  to  a  very  small  extent  in  Anoka 
County.  In  1910  only  19  farms  reported  their  use,  with  an  average 
expenditure  of  $12  each.  At  present  the  principal  method  of  keep- 
ing up  the  productiveness  of  the  upland  soils  is  the  growing  of 
clover  in  crop  rotation  and  the  use  of  all  the  available  barnyard 
manure. 

Farm  labor  is  rather  difficult  to  obtain  at  certain  times  of  the 
year.  Much  of  the  work  is  done  by  the  farmer  and  his  family.  The 
expenditure  for  labor  in  1909  amounted  to  $118,892.  There  were 
G89  farms  using  hired  labor,  with  an  average  expenditure  of  $215 
each.  Where  engaged  by  the  month,  farm  laborers  are  paid  $25 
to  $35  or  more,  in  addition  to  board.  Day  laborers  receive  about 
$1.50  to  $2.50  a  day,  with  board. 

In  1910  there  were  1,445  farms  in  the  county,  occupying  69.1  per 
cent  of  its  area.  The  average  size  of  the  farms  was  140.6  acres,  of 
which  70.3  acres  were  improved.  There  are  a  few  farms  ranging 
in  size  from  300  to  1,000  acres  or  more. 

The  1910  census  reports  86.3  per  cent  of  the  farms  operated  by 
owners,  12.7  per  cent  by  tenants,  and  1  per  cent  by  managers.  Most 
of  the  tenanted  farms  are  rented  on  a  share  basis,  the  landowner 
receiving  one-third  of  all  the  crops.  A  cash  rental  of  about  $2  to 
$2,50  an  acre  is  paid  for  tillable  upland,  while  peat  land  for  pasture 
is  rented  for  about  $1  an  acre. 

The  1910  census  reports  an  average  valuation  per  farm  of  $6,560, 
of  which  63.7  per  cent  is  represented  by  the  land,  21,2  per  cent  by 
buildings,  11.1  per  cent  by  domestic  animals,  and  4  per  cent  by  im- 
plements. Land  values  in  Anoka  County  range  from  about  $10  to 
$100  an  acre.  Land  with  clayey  subsoils,  such  as  is  included  in  the 
Miami  and  Gloucester  series,  ranges  in  selling  value  from  about 
$60  to  $100  an  acre.  Areas  of  deep  sandy  soils,  included  largely  in 
the  Merrimac  series,  sell  for  $40  to  $70  an  acre,  and  the  peat  lands 
bring  about  .$10  to  $30  an  acre. 


14  FIELD   OPERATIONS  OF   THE   BUREAU   OF   SOILS,  1916. 

BOILS. 

According  to  available  geological  data,*  Anoka  County  lies  within 
an  area  of  surface  exposures  of  what  are  termed  young  gray  glacial 
drift,  red  glacial  drift,  deep  wind-laid  sand,  and  glacial-river  terrace 
material  washed  from  both  of  the  glacial-drift  sheets,  but  mainly 
from  the  young  gray  drift.  The  entire  county  is  apparently  under- 
lain by  a  relatively  thick  sheet  of  red  glacial  drift,  which  is  overlain 
more  or  less  completely  by  a  relatively  thin  sheet  of  young  gray 
glacial  till.  Overlying  this  is  the  extensive  outwash-plain  and  dune- 
sand  mantle.  Within  the  areas  of  glacial-drift  exposure  as  well  as 
in  the  sand-plain  area  there  occur  many  depressions  of  various  sizes 
and  depths.    These  are  largely  filled  with  peaty  accumulations. 

Approximately  4.8  per  cent  of  the  county  is  covered  by  the  well- 
defined  gray  drift.  This  is  exposed  only  in  the  southeastern  part 
of  the  county,  where  it  occupies  the  southeastern  parts  of  Columbus, 
Centerville,  and  Fridley  Townships.  It  occurs  mostly  as  a  low, 
rather  level  till  plain,  which  becomes  hilly  in  a  few  places.  The  soils 
derived  from  this  material  are  characterized  by  more  or  less  cal- 
careous,^ clay  subsoils,  and  are  classed  in  the  Miami  series. 

The  red  glacial  drift  is  exposed  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the 
county,  covering  most  of  Burns  Township  and  part  of  western  St. 
Francis  Township.  It  occupies  approximately  9.1  per  cent  of  the 
county.  The  greater  part  of  the  area  covered  by  this  material  has 
a  nearly  level  to  gently  rolling  surface  and  the  soils  are  classed  in 
the  Gloucester  series.  In  the  extreme  northwestern  corner  of  the 
county  a  rather  hilly,  morainic  topography  is  developed.  The  soils 
here  are  classed  in  the  Hinckley  series.  Both  the  Gloucester  and 
Hinckley  series  have  subsoils  of  varying  clay  content,  and  are  non- 
calcareous,  although  in  many  places  the  drift  is  underlain,  apparently 
at  depths  varying  from  4  to  8  feet,  by  calcareous  material. 

The  remaining  uplands  or  about  52  per  cent  of  the  area  of  the 
coun.ty  is  occupied  by  sandy  soils  consisting  of  glacial  river-terrace 
materials  washed  mainly  from  the  gray  drift  and  sands  derived  from 
the  same  material  and  deposited  by  the  wind  over  terraces  and  out- 
wash  plains.  This  water-laid  deposit  is  of  considerable  thickness  in 
most  places.  It  is  noncalcareous,  at  least  in  the  upper  3  to  10  feet,  and 
is  of  sandy  texture  throughout.  The  surface  varies  from  quite 
level  to  gently  rolling,  and  in  places  has  the  character  of  sand  dunes. 
This  deep  sandy  area  is  occupied  largely  by  the  Merrimac  soils. 
Relatively  small  areas  are  classed  in  the  Buckner  and  Hinckley 
series. 

1  See  Minneapolis-St.  Paul  Folio,  Minn. ;  also  Leverette  sketch  map  of  soil  material  for 
Minnesota. 

*  This  term  is  used  when  the  material  contains  enough  lime  carbonate  to  cause  distinct 
effervescence  in  hydrochloric  acid.  It  has  no  reference  to  the  occurrence  of  lime  in  com- 
pounds other  than  carbonates. 


SOIL   SUKVEY   OF  ANOKA   COUNTY,   MINN.  15 

The  peat  or  marsh  lands  occur  throughout  the  various  upland  soil 
divisions.  They  are  most  extensive  in  the  eastern  half  of  the  county, 
within  the  deep  sandy  areas.  The  size  of  the  individual  areas  ranges 
from  a  few  acres  to  several  thousand  acres.  In  the  aggregate  they 
cover  about  34  per  cent  of  the  area  of  the  county. 

The  Miami  series  is  characterized  by  gray  to  light-brown  surface 
soils  underlain  by  pale-brown  to  gray  subsoils  which  are  quite 
uniformly  clayey  and  almost  invariably  calcareous.  Normally  there 
are  more  or  less  small  gravel,  cobblestones,  and  medium-sized 
bowlders  on  the  surface  and  throughout  the  3-foot  section.  In  the 
lower  subsoil  and  substratum  some  of  the  stones  are  limestone, 
but  in  the  upper  soil  section  they  are  of  noncalcareous  material,  the 
limestone  bowlders  probably  having  been  dissolved.  The  subsoils 
are  rather  compact,  being  hard  when  dry  and  plastic  when  wet,  and 
the  moisture  movement  is  somewhat  retarded.  In  general  the  sur- 
face is  rather  level  or  gently  rolling,  but  in  places  it  is  hilly  and 
rolling,  showing  some  evidence  of  morainic  accumulation.  In  the 
lower  areas  the  till  plain  seems  to  have  been  modified  to  a  greater  or 
less  degree  by  a  thin  deposit  of  sediment  from  the  adjacent  out- 
wash-plain  section  of  the  county. 

The  surface  soils  of  the  Gloucester  series  vary  from  dark  gray  to 
grayish  brown,  and  the  subsoil  from  buff  to  light  brown.  The  lighter 
colors  are  more  prominent  in  the  lower  subsoil  and  substratum.  The 
subsoils  are  noncalcareous,  and  range  in  texture  from  a  rather  heavy 
clay  to  an  open  sandy  clay.  In  most  places  .there  occur  on  the  surface 
and  throughout  the  subsoil  and  substratum  small  gravel,  cobblestones, 
and  medium-sized  bowlders,  of  crj^stalline  and  other  noncalcareous 
rocks.  In  some  places  calcareous  material  occurs  at  a  depth  of  several 
feet  below  the  surface.  The  subsoil  is  everywhere  fairly  retentive 
of  moisture  and  moderately  open  to  moisture  movement.  The  surface 
of  the  Gloucester  soils  is  mainly  that  of  a  rather  level  to  gently 
rolling  glacial-till  plain,  but  it  becomes  hilly  in  places. 

The  Hinckley  series  is  characterized  by  gray  to  brown  surface  soiJs 
underlain  by  buff-brown  to  light-brown,  noncalcareous  subsoils.  The 
subsoil  and  substratum  show  a  wide  variation  in  texture.  The  sub- 
stratum remains  noncalcareous  to  considerable  depths.  In  most 
places  small  gravel,  cobblestones,  and  medium-sized  bowlders  of  non- 
calcareous rocks  occur  on  the  surface  and  throughout  the  3-foot  sec- 
tion. The  surface  is  rather  rough  and  hilly,  a  feature  characteristic 
of  morainic  material. 

The  surface  soils  of  the  Merrimac  series  range  in  color  from  brown 
to  dark  brown  and  black.  The  subsoil  in  places  is  slightly  dark 
brown,  but  for  the  most  part  it  is  brown  to  light  brown.  The  entire 
3-foot  section  and  the  substratum  to  great  depths  are  of  a  sandy 


16 


FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU   OF   SOILS,   1916. 


nature,  without  any  marked  accumulation  of  clay,  but  the  subsoil 
is  fairly  compact  and  moderately  retentive  of  moisture.  The  material 
apparently  is  uniformly  noncalcareoiisto  great  depth,  though  in  some 
places  calcareous  gravel  and  sand  mixtures  occur  at  depths  of  8  to 
15  feet  below  the  surface.  The  surface  of  the  Merrimac  soils  varies 
from  level  to  gently  rolling. 

The  Buckner  soils  occupy  a  comparatively  narrow  strip  of  discon- 
nected terraces  adjacent  to  the  Mississippi  River.  The  series  consists 
of  dark-brown  to  black  surface  soils  underlain  by  a  subsoil  ranging 
in  color  from  rather  deep  orange  brown  to  somewhat  lighter  brown. 
The  subsoil  and  substratum  vary  from  a  rather  coarse  loamy  sand  to 
a  medium  loamy  sand,  and  contain  stratified  gravel  and  coarse  sand. 
The  material  to  depths  of  at  least  3  to  10  feet  is  noncalcareous.  It 
contains  enough  fine  material  to  be  fairly  retentive  of  moisture.  The 
Buckner  soils  consist  of  alluvial  sediments  washed  from  drift-covered 
uplands  and  deposited  by  the  Mississippi  River  when  it  flowed  at  a 
higher  level  than  at  present.  They  are  younger  than  the  Merrimac 
soils.    The  surface  ranges  from  rather  level  to  gently  undulating. 

The  soil  type  classed  as  Peat  consists  of  a  brown  and  black,  spongy, 
more  or  less  resistant  mass  of  undecomposed  roots,  moss,  and  vege- 
table fiber  intermixed  with  more  finely  divided  material,  and  under- 
lain by  more  uniformly  black  and  more  finely  divided  and  decayed 
fibrous  matter.  Peat  owes  its  origin  to  the  decay  of  a  luxuriant 
growth  of  sedges  and  other  aquatic  plants  in  old  ponds  and  lakes. 
The  surface  is  nearly  flat,  with  a  slight  slope  in  the  direction  of  stream 
flow  in  places.  Areas  in  which  the  organic  accumulation  averages 
less  than  3  feet  in  depth  are  not  considered  typical.  Where  the 
underlying  soil  is  a  sand  the  Peat  is  mapped  as  a  sandy-subsoil 
phase,  and  where  it  is  a  clay  as  a  heavy-subsoil  phase. 

In  the  following  pages  of  this  report  the  various  soils  mapped  in 
Anoka  County  are  described  in  detail  and  discussed  in  their  relation 
to  agriculture.  The  table  below  shows  the  name  and  the  actual  and 
relative  extent  of  each  type: 

Areas  of  different  soils. 


Soil. 

Acres. 

Per  cent. 

Soil. 

Acres. 

Per  cent. 

Peat                

91,520 
10,048 

1,920 
88.  vm 
42.688 
15,872 

9,472 

37.6 

32.3 
15.5 
5.8 
3.4 

Miami  loam 

5.632 
2,880 
2,496 
2,304 

2,048 

2.0 

Sandy-subsoil  phase 

Heavy-subsoil  phase 

Merrimac  loamy  fine  sand 

Miami  fine  sandy  loam 

Hinckley  gravelly  sandy  loam 

Buckner  loamy  fine  .sand 

Oloucester  loam 

1.0 
.9 
.8 

.7 

Gloucester  flue  sandy  loam... 

Total 

275, 840 

BOIL   SURVEY   OF   ANOKA   COUNTY,   MINN.  17 

MIAMI  FINE  SANDY  LOAM. 

The  Miami  fine  sandy  loam  consists  of  a  gray  to  dark-gray  fine 
sandy  loam,  8  to  18  inches  deep,  underlain  to  a  depth  of  3  feet  or 
more  b}^  a  pale-brown  to  gray  clay  subsoil  which  becomes  more  gray 
in  the  low-er  part  and  in  the  substratum.  In  most  places  small  gravel, 
cobblestones,  and  medium-sized  bowlders  are  more  or  less  abundant 
on  the  surface  and  throughout  the  soil,  subsoil,  and  substratum. 
Within  the  3-foot  section  they  are  practicall}^  all  of  crystalline-rock 
origin,  those  of  limestone  origin  probably  having  been  dissolved. 
In  a  few  places  the  lower  subsoil  contains  calcareous  clay,  gravel,  and 
bowlders,  and  the  substratum  invariably  shows  an  abundance  of 
calcareous  material. 

The  Miami  fine  sandy  loam  is  developed  in  the  southeastern  part 
of  Columbus,  Centerville,  and  Fridley  Townships.  It  has  a  level  to 
gently  rolling  surface.  In  places  it  occupies  low,  elongated  ridges. 
The  surface  drainage  and  underdrainage  are  on  the  whole  very  fa- 
vorable for  crop  growth.  The  surface  material  is  readily  absorptive 
of  rainfall,  and  the  clay  subsoil  is  retentive.  The  soil  is  easy  to  till, 
and  warms  up  early  in  the  spring. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  important  soils  in  the  county.  About  90 
per  cent  of  it  is  in  cultivation,  the  remainder  supporting  a  growth 
of  large  oaks  included  in  woodlots  and  wooded  pasture.  Corn,  oats, 
tame  grasses,  and  potatoes  are  the  most  important  crops  on  this  type. 
Corn  is  grown  to  a  considerable  extent  for  silage  to  feed  dairy  cows, 
and  dairy  products  are  a  source  of  income  throughout  the  year. 
Hogs  are  usually  raised  in  connection  with  dairying,  spring- farrowed 
pigs  being  marketed  in  the  fall  and  winter.  Oats  and  hay  are  grown 
principally  for  use  on  the  farm,  only  the  surplus  being  sold.  Pota- 
toes are  usually  the  last  field  crop  gathered,  but  only  a  small  propor- 
tion of  the  potato  crop  is  kept  for  winter  storage.  Rye,  wheat,  other 
grains,  garden  stuffs,  and  strawberries  are  grown  to  some  extent  for 
home  and  local  use.  Corn  yields  from  20  to  40  bushels  per  acre,  oats 
25  to  50  bushels,  rye  15  to  30  bushels,  and  wheat  12  to  25  bushels. 
Potatoes  yield  from  50  to  125  bushels  per  acre.  Tame  hay,  consist- 
ing largely  of  clover  and  timothy,  ranges  in  yield  from  1  to  2  tons 
per  acre. 

Land  values  on  this  type  range  from  about  $60  to  over  $100  an 
acre,  depending  largely  upon  the  state  of  improvement.  Most  of  the 
type  is  very  well  situated  with  reference  to  railway  lines  and  markets. 

The  surface  soil  of  the  Miami  fine  sandy  loam  is  sufficiently  sandy 
to  be  blown  into  drifts  where  bare  of  vegetation.  This  tendency  is 
largely  met  by  deferring  seed-bed  preparation  until  immediately 
before  putting  in  crops.    Grass  sod,  grain  stubble,  and  potato  vines 


18  FIELD  OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU    OF   SOILS,   1916i 

left  in  fields  retard  drifting  to  some  extent.  In  other  parts  of  the 
United  States,  under  similar  conditions,  it  has  been  found  advisable 
to  lay  off  fields  in  narrow  strips,  bounded  by  grass  sod.  The  turn- 
ing under  of  manure,  straw,  and  other  vegetable  matter  would  lessen 
injury  from  drifting,  and  the  growing  of  green  cover  crops  to  be 
turned  under  would  also  be  of  benefit  in  maintaining  the  productive- 
ness of  the  soil.  Eape  or  millet  could  well  be  sown  in  corn  fields  at 
the  last  cultivation,  as  such  seeding  would  add  to  the  cOrn-stubble 
pasturage  following  corn  harvest,  in  addition  to  lessening  the  ex- 
posure of  the  soil  to  wind  erosion. 

MIAMI   LOAM. 

The  Miami  loam  consists  of  a  gray  to  dark-gray  very  fine  sandy 
loam  to  loam,  6  to  10  inches  deep,  underlain  by  a  brownish-drab  to 
gray  clay  with  brown  and  greenish  mottling.  On  the  surface  and 
throughout  the  soil  to  a  depth  of  several  feet  there  are  usually  pre- 
sent more  or  less  small  gravel,  coarse  gravel,  and  bowlders.  To  a 
depth  of  about  3  feet  this  coarse  material  is  almost  entirely  of  crystal- 
line-rock origin,  those  of  limestone  origin  that  may  have  been  pre- 
sent in  earlier  geologic  time  probably  having  been  disintegrated  and 
the  lime  leached  away.  In  some  places,  however,  the  clay,  gravel, 
and  larger  rounded  stones  in  the  lower  subsoil  are  calcareous.  The 
substratum  is  invariably  strongly  calcareous. 

In  the  lower  lying  situations  contiguous  to  the  Miami  fine  sandy 
loam  there  has  been  some  modification  by  overwash  from  the  out- 
wash  plain  area,  and  fine  sand  and  very  fine  sand  have  been  mixed 
with  the  soil  to  such  a  degree  that  it  is  hard  to  distinguish  the  type 
in  places  from  the  fine  sandy  loam. 

The  Miami  loam  occurs  in  close  association  with  the  Miami  fine 
sandy  loam,  fairly  well  removed  from  the  outwash-plain  area.  It 
is  developed  in  the  southeastern  parts  of  Columbus,  Centerville,  and 
Fridley  Townships.  In  general  it  has  a  plainlike,  level  to  gently 
rolling  surface.  In  the  southern  part  of  Centerville  Township  and 
over  most  of  the  type  in  Fridley  Township  the  surface  is  more  hilly 
and  knolly.  With  very  few  exceptions,  the  type  has  good  surface 
drainage  and  underdrainage,  and  is  retentive  of  moisture. 

The  Miami  loam  is  an  important  type  agriculturally.  It  is  natu- 
rally strong  and  productive.  Ninety  per  cent  or  more  of  its  area 
is  in  cultivation,  the  remainder  consisting  of  woodlots.  Corn,  oats, 
clover,  other  tame  grasses,  and  potatoes  are  the  most  important 
crops  on  this  type.  It  is  one  of  the  best  soils  in  the  county  for  dairy- 
ing, and  a  large  part  of  the  grain  and  hay  grown  is  fed  to  dairy 
cattle.  Part  of  the  corn  is  used  for  silage,  which  helps  to  keep  the 
milk  production  miiform  throughout  the  year.     Hogs  are  largely 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF   ANOKA    COUNTY,   MINN.  19 

raised  in  connection  with  dairying.  Cattle  are  raised  in  considerable 
numbers.  Corn  yields  25  to  50  bushels  per  acre,  oats  25  to  50  bushels, 
rye  10  to  30  bushels,  and  wheat  15  to  30  bushels.  Potatoes  yield 
75  to  200  bushels  per  acre.  Tame  hay,  consisting  of  clover  and 
timoth}^  mixed  as  well  as  each  grown  alone,  ranges  in  yield  from 
1  to  2  tons  per  acre.  StraAvberries  yield  from  1,000  to  2,000  quarts 
per  acre. 

Owing  to  its  heavier  texture  this  type  does  not  drift  readily,  and 
plowing  can  be  done  at  any  season  of  the  year.  Fall  plowing  is 
desirable,  as  it  lessens  the  amount  of  work  to  be  done  in  the  spring, 
allows  the  soil  to  be  mellowed  by  alternate  freezing  and  thawing, 
and  hastens  the  deca}^  of  weeds  and  other  trash.  As  a  consequence, 
much  fall  plowing  is  done  on  this  soil,  harrowing  and  other  opera- 
tions as  ma}"  be  necessary  to  prepr.re  a  proper  seed  bed  being  deferred 
until  spring. 

Land  values  on  this  tj^pe  range  from  $70  to  over  $100  an  acre. 
It  is  favorably  situated  with  reference  to  railway  lines  and  other 
means  of  transportation. 

GLOUCESTER  FINE  SANDY  LOAM. 

The  Gloucester  fine  sandy  loam  consists  of  a  dark-gray,  gray,  or 
grayish-brown  fine  sandy  loam,  10  to  24  inches  deep,  underlain  by  an 
orange-brown  to  light-brown  clay  loam  or  clay.  Occasionally  the 
subsoil  may  be  quite  clayey  and  compact  to  considerable  depths,  but 
in  many  places  the  lower  subsoil  and  the  substratum  have  a  varying 
admixture  of  fine  sand  and  small  gravel  mixed  with  clay  and  are 
more  or  less  open,  though  not  to  the  extent  of  being  leachy.  The  type 
differs  from  the  Miami  fine  sandy  loam  in  being  less  uniformly  clayey 
throughout  the  subsoil  and  substratum,  and  in  having  an  entire 
absence  of  calcareous  material  within  the  upper  3  or  4  feet.  Small 
crystalline  gravel,  cobblestones,  and  medium-sized  bowlders  occur 
more  or  less  abundantly  on  the  surface  and  throughout  the  soil  mass. 
In  places  calcareous  clay  and  limestone  gravel,  cobbles,  and  bowlders 
occur  at  depths  of  4  to  8  feet.  In  the  older  fields  very  few  bowlders 
remain  on  the  surface,  having  been  removed  from  time  to  time  since 
the  land  has  been  under  cultivation. 

The  Gloucester  fine  sandy  loam  is  developed  in  the  northwestern 
part  of  the  count}'.  Its  principal  area  lies  in  Burns  Township  and 
in  the  western  part  of  St.  Francis  Township.  Avith  a  small  extension 
into  Ramsey  Township.  The  surface  is  for  the  most  part  level  to 
rolling.  A  small  total  area  is  hilly.  The  type  is  well  drained,  but 
the  texture  and  structure  of  the  soil  and  subsoil  are  favorable  to  the 
conservation  of  moisture  for  crop  use. 

The  Gloucester  fine  sandy  loam  ranks  high  agriculturally.  It  is 
easy  to  cultivate,  warms  up  early  in  the  spring,  and  responds  well  to 


20  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF    THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,   1916. 

good  cultural  methods.  About  70  per  cent  of  the  type  is  in  culti- 
vation. Most  of  the  remaiiider  supports  a  gro^vth  of  largo  oaks,  with 
some  maple  and  birch  and  an  undergrowth  of  brush  and  native 
grasses.  This  forested  land  is  used  part  of  the  year  as  live-stock 
range.  Much  of  it  is  in  farm  woodlots,  but  there  are  some  fairly 
large  tracts  remote  from  cultivated  fields. 

Corn,  oats,  hay,  and  potatoes  are  the  most  imj^ortant  crops  on  this 
type.  It  is  extensively  used  for  dairying,  but  it  is  not  as  well  adapted 
to  this  industry  as  are  the  heavier  soils  of  the  county.  Hogs  are 
raised  in  connection  with  dairying,  and  beef  cattle  are  a  source  of 
income  on  many  farms.  Much  of  the  corn  crop  goes  into  silos.  Part 
of  the  crop  is  sold,  as  is  also  the  surplus  of  the  oats  and  hay  produced. 
Potatoes  are  an  important  sale  crop.  R^'e,  wheat,  other  grains,  beans, 
garden  crops,  and  strawberries  are  grown  mainly  for  home  and 
local  use. 

Corn  yields  range  from  20  to  40  bushels,  oats  20  to  50  bushels,  rye 
15  to  25  bushels,  and  wheat  12  to  20  bushels  per  acre.  Potato  yields 
range  from  50  to  150  bushels  per  acre.  Tame  hay,  consisting  largely 
of  clover  and  timothy,  yields  from  1  to  2  tons  per  acre. 

The  surface  soil  of  this  type  is  blown  into  drifts  if  allowed  to  re- 
main bare  of  vegetation,  and  for  this  reason  the  tj^pe  is  seldom 
plowed  in  the  fall  except  where  winter  rye  is  to  be  sown. 

Land  values  on  this  type  range  from  $50  to  $70  an  acre,  depend- 
ing largely  on  the  state  of  improvement  and  the  location  with  refer- 
ence to  transportation  points  and  markets. 

GLOUCESTER    LOAM, 

The  surface  soil  of  the  Gloucester  loam  is  a  gray,  dark-gray  or 
grayi.-h-brown  very  fine  sandy  loam  to  loam,  8  to  12  inches  deep. 
The  subsoil  is  an  orange-brown  to  light-brown  clay  loam  or  clay. 
In  some  places  it  is  compact  to  a  considerable  depth,  while  in  others 
the  lower  subsoil  and  the  substratum  show  various  admixtures  of 
fine  sand  and  small  gravel,  forming  a  mass  which  is  more  or  less  open 
structured  but  not  so  porous  as  to  be  leachy.  In  most  places  small 
gravel,  cobblestones,  and  medium-sized  bowlders  are  more  or  less 
abundant  on  the  surface  and  throughout  the  lower  depths.  The 
gravel  and  stones  are  entirely  of  crystalline-rock  origin  Avithin  the 
upper  3  or  4  feet.  In  some  places  gray  calcareous  clays,  limestone 
gravels,  cobbles,  and  bowlders  are  encountered  at  depths  of  4  to  8 
feet. 

The  Gloucester  loam  occurs  in  a  few  small  areas  closely  associated 
with  the  fine  sandy  loam,  in  Burns  and  Ramsey  Townships.  Its  sur- 
face is  level  to  gently  rolling,  becoming  hilly  in  a  few  places.  The 
type  has  thorough  drainage,  but  the  soil  and  subsoil  are  retentive  of 
moisture. 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF  ANOKA   COUNTY,   MINN".  21 

The  Gloucester  loam  ranks  high  agriculturally.  Owing  to  its 
loanw  texture  it  is  easily  cultivated,  and  it  warms  up  fairly  early 
in  the  spring.  Over  50  per  cent  of  the  type  is  under  cultivation, 
the  remainder  largely  supporting  a  growth  of  oak,  with  some  maple 
and  birch  and  an  undergrowth  of  brush  and  native  grasses.  This 
soil  is  used  for  the  same  crops  and  is  handled  in  about  the  same  way 
as  the  Gloucester  fine  sandy  loam.  Its  heavier  texture  allows  some- 
what wider  latitude  in  plowing  and  cultivation,  the  type  not  being 
so  subjected  to  injury  from  wind  erosion. 

Land  values  on  this  type  range  from  $50  to  $70  an  acre. 

HINCKLEY   GRA\T:LLY    SANDY   LOAM. 

The  surface  soil  of  the  Hinckley  gravelly  sandy  loam  consists  of  a 
rather  light  brown  to  dark-brown,  gravelly  sandy  loam,  10  to  18  inches 
deep.  In  the  lower  part  the  material  is  invariably  of  lighter  color 
than  in  the  surface  5  or  G  inches.  Gravel  and  bowlders  are  rather 
abundant  in  some  places,  but  occasionally  they  are  almost  lacking. 
The  subsoil  varies  in  color  from  orange  brown  to  light  brown,  and 
in  texture  from  a  rather  light  clay  to  a  rather  open,  sandy  to  sandy 
and  gravelly  clay.  In  some  areas  it  consists  largely  of  sand  and 
gravel  with  variously  sized  cobbles  and  bowlders.  In  general  it  con- 
tains clay  enough  to  make  it  retentive  of  moisture.  The  gravel,  cob- 
bles, and  bov.lders  in  this  soil  are  invariably  of  crystalline  rocks,  no 
calcareous  material  being  encountered  at  any  depth.  This  type  dif- 
fers from  the  Gloucester  in  containing  more  gravel  and  coarser  sand 
and  in  having  a  wider  variation  in  composition,  but  as  mapped  it 
includes  some  small  areas  of  typical  Gloucester  soil. 

The  Hinckle}''  gravelly  sandy  loam  occurs  in  the  extreme  north- 
western corner  of  the  county.  Its  surface  is  rather  rough  and  hilly, 
being  characterized  by  large  and  small  Imolls,  hills,  and  ridges  with 
intervening  kettlehole  depressions  and  large  Peat  marshes.  The 
topography  is  typical  of  a  rather  well  developed  moraine.  The  type 
has  thorough  natural  drainage,  but  is  not  markedly  droughty, 
although  yields  are  often  reduced  to  some  extent  by  prolonged  dry 
weather. 

The  Hinckley  gravelly  sandy  loam  ranks  lower  in  agricultural 
value  than  the  Gloucester  soils.  Owing  to  its  hilly  surface  it  can  in 
most  places  be  cultivated  only  in  small,  irregular  fields,  and  large 
horse-drawn  implements  can  be  used  on  only  a  few  farms.  Appar- 
ently 10  to  15  per  cent  of  the  type  is  in  cultivation,  the  remainder 
being  forested  mainly  with  large  oak,  with  some  scrub  oak  and  a 
scattered  growth  of  maple,  birch,  hazel,  and  other  brush.  Wild 
vetch  and  grasses  afford  good  grazing  during  the  summer.  Consid- 
erable merchantable  timber  remains,  and  several  portable  sawmills 
are  in  operati^pn  in  the  forested  areas. 


22  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF    THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,   1916. 

Corn,  oats,  and  potatoes  are  the  most  important  crops  ou  this  type. 
Beans  and  garden  crops  are  grown  to  a  small  extent.  Yields  in  gen- 
eral are  lower  than  on  the  Gloucester  soils. 

Land  values  on  this  soil  are  rather  variable,  prices  quoted  by 
farmers  ranging  from  $15  to  $65  an  acre.  The  roads  are  hilly  and  in 
need  of  improvement  in  grades  and  otherwise  before  heavy  produce 
can  be  economically  transported. 

HINCKLEY  FINE  SAND. 

The  Hinckley  fine  sand  consists  of  a  rather  light  broAvn  to  dark- 
brown  fine  sand,  6  to  10  inches  deep,  underlain  by  a  subsoil  and 
substratum  of  light-brown  fine  sand.  In  exposed  situations  the  soil 
is  subject  to  wind  erosion  and  drifting.  Deep  holes  or  "blowouts" 
occur  in  places.    The  type  is  locally  known  as  "  Bunker  Prairie." 

The  Hinckley  fine  sand  occurs  mainly  in  the  south-central  part  of 
the  county,  in  a  few  fairly  large  areas  in  Grow,  Anoka,  Blaine,  and 
Fridley  Townships,  and  in  Bethel  Township  in  the  north-central 
part.  In  general  the  surface  varies  from  gently  rolling  to  rather 
sharply  rolling.  Some  small  areas  are  broken  and  hilly,  as  a  result 
of  the  drifting  of  the  sand,  and  over  these  the  surface  is  broken 
by  "  blowouts."  The  type  is  almost  everywhere  thoroughly  drained, 
and  much  of  it  is  droughty.  In  the  lower  lying  areas  but  little 
elevated  above  the  Peat  land  the  water  table  is  normally  near  the 
surface,  and  the  moisture  conditions  are  more  favorable  for  crop 
growth. 

Only  a  small  proportion  of  the  Hinckley  fine  sand  is  in  cultivation. 
The  remainder  supports  a  forest  growth  consisting  largely  of  scrub 
oak.  with  an  undergrowth  of  sand  cherry,  chokecherry,  and  coarse 
sand  grasses.  Corn,  oats,  clover,  and  potatoes  are  grown  on  the  better 
areas  of  the  type.  Crop  yields  are  rather  uncertain,  but  in  some 
years  fairly  good  yields  are  obtained. 

Land  values  on  this  type  range  from  less  than  $10  to  more  than 
$40  an  acre.  The  roads  on  this  soil  are  usually  loose  and  difficult  to 
travel. 

Owing  to  its  light,  sandy  texture,  this  soil  can  not  be  extensively 
farmed  without  the  incorporation  of  manure,  straw,  Peat  soil,  or 
green  cover  crops  to  serve  as  a  binder.  Under  present  conditions 
the  cleared  areas  should  be  kept  in  tame  grasses  as  much  as  possible 
and  used  as  pastures  in  order  to  fill  the  soil  with  grass  roots  and 
prevent  drifting. 

MERKIMAC  LOAMY   SAND. 

The  Merrimac  loamy  sand  consists  of  a  brown  to  very  dark  brown 
loamy  sand,  10  to  18  inches  deep,  underlain  by  a  brown  loamy  sand 
subsoil  and  substratum.     The  surface  material  in  places  appears  almost 


SOIL   SURVEY    OF   ANOKA    COUNTY,    MINN.  23 

black.  In  some  areas  the  surface  soil  contains  pebbles  and  small 
gravel,  and  these  are  more  uniformly  present  in  the  subsoil,  some- 
times in  stratified  layers.  The  substratum  often  contains  alternating 
stratified  layers  of  clean  sand,  heavy-textured  material,  and  gravel 
beds  of  varying  thickness.  The  soil  to  depths  of  3  to  8  feet  or  more 
is  not  highly  calcareous.  In  excavations  west  of  St.  Francis  and  near 
Anoka  the  material  at  depths  of  8  to  15  feet,  consisting  of  gravel  and 
sand,  is  to  a  fairly  large  extent  calcareous,  and  calcareous  material 
probably  exists  in  the  lower  substratum  throughout  much  of  the 
type. 

The  Merrimac  loamy  sand  occurs  quite  extensively  in  the  western 
part  of  the  sand-plain  division  of  the  county.  It  is  also  developed  in 
narrow  strips  on  the  terraces  along  the  Mississippi  River.  The  type 
is  characterized  by  a  rather  level  to  gently  rolling  surface.  It  occurs 
mainly  in  large  areas  which  contain  depressions  of  various  depths 
often  filled  with  peaty  accumulations.  The  type  lies  usually  several 
feet  above  normal  stream  levels.  Along  the  streams  and  around  de- 
pressions some  rather  steep  slopes  occur. 

The  type  is  naturally  well  drained,  but  fairl}-  retentive  of  moisture. 
As  a  whole  the  type  is  somewhat  more  susceptible  to  drought  than  the 
Merrimac  loamy  fine  sand,  but  in  seasons  of  normal  rainfall  there 
is  no  apparent  difference  bat  ween  the  two  types  so  far  as  the  supply 
of  moisture  for  crops  is  concerned.  The  higher  average  level  of  the 
Merrimac  loamy  sand  above  streams  and  peat-land  depressions  may 
be  in  part  responsible  for  its  greater  susceptibility  to  drought. 

The  Merrimac  loamy  sand  covers  15  per  cent  of  the  area  of  the 
county  or  about  one-half  the  area  occupied  by  the  -Merrimac  loamy  fine 
sand.  It  is  slightly  inferior  to  the  latter  soil  in  productiveness, 
but  is  nevertheless  under  the  climatic  conditions  of  this  region  a 
reasonably  good  agricultural  soil.  About  80  per  cent  of  its  area  is 
in  cultivation.  Little  if  any  of  the  type  in  the  southwestern  part 
of  the  county  has  ever  been  forested;  its  original  vegetation  con- 
sisted of  brush  and  various  grasses  and  legumes.  This  part  of  the 
type  is  still  locally  known  as  prairie.  In  the  north-central  part  of 
the  county  the  type  supported  a  heavy  forest  of  oak  and  other  trees 
similar  to  those  on  the  Merrimac  loamy  fine  sand.  The  remnants 
of  this  forest  are  now  confined  largely  to  woodlots. 

Corn,  oats,  hay,  and  potatoes  are  the  most  important  crops  on  this 
soil.  A  large  part  of  the  farm  products  is  fed  to  dairy,  besf  or 
work  animals.  Potatoes  are  the  principal  money  crop.  A  small 
surplus  of  corn,  oats,  and  hay  is  sold.  Hogs,  calves,  and  steers  are 
raised  in  connection  with  dairying.  Rye,  wheat,  other  small  grains, 
vegetables,  and  strawberries  are  grown  for  home  and  local  use.  The 
average  yield  of  corn  ranges  in  different  years  from  20  to  50  bushels 


24 


FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF    THE   BUREAU   OF   SOILS,   1916. 


per  acre.  Oats  yield  20  to  40  bushels  per  acre,  rye  10  to  25  bushels, 
and  wheat  10  to  20  bushels.  Potatoes  yield  from  75  to  150  bushels 
per  acre. 

Land  values  on  this  type  range  from  $40  to  over  $100  an  acre. 
Good  transportation  and  market  facilities  and  nearness  to  towns 
account  for  the  higher  values.  Some  of  the  roads  within  the  areas 
of  this  typo  are  in  good  condition,  but  many  are  deep  with  sand, 
and  hard  to  travel. 

The  Merrimac  loamy  sand  is  not  so  durable  as  the  types  with  clay 
subsoils,  but  with  good  fiirming  methods,  including  the  growing 
of  clover,  good  average  yields  can  be  maintained.  Where  the  soil 
has  a  tendency  to  drift  preparation  of  the  seed-bed  should  be  post- 
poned until  just  before  seeding.  Coarse  vegetable  matter  should 
be  plowed  under.  The  sowing  of  catch  crops  such  as  rape  or  millet 
in  corn  fields  at  the  last  cultivation  would  add  to  the  pasturage  value 
of  the  corn  stubble  and  lessen  exposure  of  the  soil  to  wind  erosion 
during  the  winter. 

The  following  table  gives  the  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of 
samples  of  the  soil  and  subsoil  of  the  Merrimac  loamy  sand : 

Mechanical   analyses   of  Merrimac   loamy   sand. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

320909 

320910 

?o:l 

Subsoil 

Per  cent. 
3.9 
3.7 

Per  cent. 
21.0 
23.6 

Per  cent. 
16.6 
18.6 

Per  cent. 
40.9 
39.2 

Per  cent. 
3.7 
2.4 

Per  cent. 
8.1 
7.5 

Per  cent. 

6.7 
5.0 

MERUIMAC  LOAMY  FINE  SAND. 


The  Merrimac  loamy  fine  sand  consists  of  a  brown  to  dark-brown 
loamy  fine  sand.  8  to  10  inches  deep,  underlain  by  a  light-brown  to 
brown  loamy  fine  sand  which  in  many  places  continues  into  the  sub- 
stratum. In  some  places  the  type  is  characterized  by  layers  of  clean, 
loose  fine  sand  alternating  with  quite  heavy  textured  material,  the 
vertical  section  here  being  suggestive  of  stratification.  The  material 
to  depths  of  at  least  several  feet  is  noncalcareous.  Judging  from 
other  outwash  plain  types  it  is  probable  that  calcareous  material  oc- 
curs at  lower  depths. 

The  ^Merrimac  loamy  fine  sand  occurs  extensively  through  the  sand- 
plain  division  of  the  county.  It  is  developed  to  some  extent  in  prac- 
tically every  township,  and  the  upland  in  the  central  and  eastern 
townships  consists  mainly  of  this  type.  The  surface  varies  from 
gently  undulating  to  fairly  rolling.  None  of  the  type  is  too  rough 
for  easy  cultivation.  It  occurs  in  large  bodies  containing  peat-filled 
depressions  and  ponds,  as  well  as  on  low  knolls  and  ridges  within 


SOIL   SURVEY    OF   ANOKA    COUNTY,   MINN.  25 

large  bodies  of  peat  land.  The  type  has  good  natural  surface  drain- 
age. In  some  of  the  higher  lying  areas  where  the  subsoil  is  somewhat 
open  and  leachy  the  type  is  droughty,  but  in  general  the  type  is 
fairly  retentive  of  moisture.  Areas  lying  but  little  above  the  level  of 
peat  land  have  a  relatively  high  water  table,  and  the  supply  of  mois- 
ture for  crop  use  in  such  places  is  invariably  good. 

The  Merrimac  loamy  fine  sand  next  to  Peat  is  the  most  extensive 
soil  in  the  county.  It  covers  at  least  one-third  of  the  total  area. 
Owing  to  its  resistance  to  drought  it  is  somewhat  more  productive 
than  the  loamy  sand.  About  65  per  cent  of  the  type  is  in  cultivation. 
The  remainder  supports  a  forest  consisting  mainly  of  large  oak,  with 
a  scattering  growth  of  scrub  oak  and  poplar.  Sand  cherry,  choke 
cherry,  and  wild  plum  are  found  in  places,  and  there  is  generally  an 
undergrowth  of  brush  and  grasses  in  the  forested  areas.  The  for- 
ested land  is  not  only  of  considerable  value  as  a  source  of  firewood, 
but  also  affords  some  pasturage. 

Corn,  oats,  potatoes,  and  tame  grasses,  principally  clover,  are  the 
most  important  crops  on  this  soil.  Dairying  is  an  important  in- 
dustry, although  the  soils  of  heavier  texture  make  more  ideal  dairy 
farms.  Hogs  and  some  beef  cattle  are  raised.  Poultry  products  are 
a  source  of  considerable  income.  The  yield  of  corn  in  good  years  is 
as  high  as  on  the  Gloucester  and  Miami  soils.  In  extremely  dry  years 
it  is  somewhat  lower.  The  average  is  about  35  bushels  per  acre,  but 
with  normal  rainfall  a  yield  of  more  than  50  bushels  is  often  ob- 
tained. Potatoes  yield  from  75  to  150  bushels  per  acre.  There  is  a 
somewhat  wider  variation  in  yields  than  on  types  having  clay  sub- 
soils. 

Land  values  on  this  type  range  from  $40  to  more  than  $70  an  acre, 
depending  on  the  state  of  improvement,  the  transportation  and 
market  facilities,  and  the  location.  The  roads  over  most  of  the  type 
are  in  poor  condition,  many  of  them  being  of  loose  sand. 

The  Merrimac  loamy  fine  sand  is  somewhat  subject  to  drifting, 
which  can  be  prevented  to  some  extent  by  keeping  the  land  in  grass 
sod  or  in  some  catch  crop,  such  as  rape  or  millet,  as  much  of  the 
time  as  possible. 

BUCKNEE   LOAMY    FINE    SAND. 

The  Buckner  loamy  fine  sand  consists  of  a  rather  dark  brown 
to  black,  loamy  fine  sand,  12  to  18  inches  deep,  underlain  by  a  sub- 
soil of  brown  loamy  fine  sand.  The  change  from  surface  soil  to 
subsoil  is  very  gradual.  In  several  included  areas  the  texture  ranges 
to  a  very  fine  sandy  loam  or  loam.  In  some  places  the  soil  and 
subsoil  contain  gravel.  Apparently  there  is  no  calcareous  material 
within  the  3-foot  section,  but  the  substratum  is  probably  more  or 
less  calcareous. 


26  FIELD   OPEEATIOXS   OF   THE   BUREAU   OF   SOILS,   1916. 

The  Buckner  loamy  fine  sand  is  developed  on  narrow,  discon- 
nected terraces  along  the  Rum  and  Mississippi  Rivers.  Tliese  ter- 
rances  are  frequently  spoken  of  as  bottom  lands,  and  lie  only  2  to  10 
feet  above  the  stream,  but  they  are  almost  entirely  above  the  reach 
of  overflows. 

The  surface  varies  from  level  to  gently  undulating,  and  in  most 
places  drainage  is  good.  On  the  Avhole  this  type  seems  to  be  less 
susceptible  to  drought  than  the  Merrimac  loamy  sand,  probably  be- 
cause of  its  lower  position  and  higher  ground-water  level. 

The  native  vegetation  on  this  soil  consisted  of  large  oak,  soft  maple, 
and  box  elder,  with  some  willow  and  poplar  and  an  undergrowth  of 
briers,  vines,  and  wild  grass.  A  very  large  proportion  of  the  type  is 
in  cultivation,  principally  to  corn,  oats,  potatoes,  and  hay  crops, 
including  clover.  The  type  is  farmed  in  practically  the  same  way 
as  the  Merrimac  loamy  fine  sand.  Yields  probably  average  a  little 
higher.     Land  values  range  from  $50  to  $100  an  acre. 


To  a  depth  of  10  to  12  inches  the  typical  Peat  consists  of  a  brown 
to  black,  spongy,  more  or  less  resistant  mass  of  partly  decayed  roots, 
stems,  and  other  vegetable  remains,  intermixed  with  more  finely 
divided  and  more  thoroughly  decomposed  peaty  matter.  The  under- 
lying material  to  a  depth  of  3  to  10  feet  or  more  is  uniformly  more 
dark  in  color,  and  is  composed  of  more  finely  divided  vegetable 
matter,  resting  on  a  substratum  of  grayish  fine  sand,  or  in  places 
of  marl  or  calcareous  deposits.^ 

Peat  is  an  extensive  type.  It  occurs  throughout  the  county  in 
areas  ranging  in  size  from  a  few  to  several  thousand  acres.  The 
largest  developments  are  encountered  in  the  eastern  half  of  the 
county. 

The  surface  of  the  tj^pe  is  flat  or  nearly  flat.  Some  areas  show 
a  slight  slope  in  the  direction  of  the  natural  drainage.  The  Peat  is 
prevailingly  poorly  drained.  Considerable  ditching  has  been  done, 
but  much  sj^stematic  work  is  necessary  before  the  land  can  be  used  for 
farming.  Much  of  the  former  ditching  was  done  at  the  heads  of  the 
natural  drainage  wavs,  or  even  above  their  sources,  with  the  result 
that  the  channels  were  unable  to  carr}'  off  the  extra  volume  of  water, 
and  large  areas  of  Peat  along  the  lower  courses  were  flooded.  Some 
of  this  inundated  land  had  formerly  been  used  for  hay  production. 
At  the  present  time  steps  are  being  taken  to  deepen  the  natural  drain- 
age channels  and  to  dig  largo,  deep  main  ditches  through  the  larger 
Peat  areas  to  be  connected  with  laterals.  A  State  law  provides  that 
check  dams  may  be  placed  in  ditches  when  these  will  cause  no  injury 


'  Tests  made  by  the  Division  of  Soils,  I'niveisily  of  Minnesota. 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF   ANOKA    COUNTY,   MINN.  27 

to  adjacent  lands.  This  provision  is  important  to  farmers  who  use 
marshhind  areas  for  growing  wire  grass,  which  flourishes  only  under 
swampy  conditions. 

The  typical  Peat  supports  a  varied  vegetation.  In  the  wetter 
open  marshes  there  is  a  dominant  growth  of  wire  grass.  The  less 
wet,  partly  drained  open  marshes  have  a  cover  of  various  marsh 
grasses,  with  "  brown  top  ■'  often  the  dominant  growth.  These  bet- 
ter drained  marshes  are  locally  known  as  *"  meadows,"  and  at  pres- 
ent they  are  the  source  of  most  of  the  wild  hay  produced.  About 
two-thirds  to  three-fourths  of  the  Peat  area  is  open  marsh.  Much 
of  the  remainder  has  a  mixed  cover  of  native  grasses,  with  swamp 
willow,  alder  and  other  brushy  shrubs,  and  a  second  growth  of  pop- 
lar on  burnt-over  patches.  In  some  places  there  is  a  rather  dense 
growth  consisting  principalh'  of  tamarack  trees  ranging  from  3  to 
6  inches  in  diameter,  with  a  scattering  undergrowth  of  grass  and 
brush.  The  areas  forested  with  tamarack  at  one  time  yielded  con- 
siderable timber  for  railroad  ties  and  cordwood. 

Most  of  the  tj'pe  at  present  may  be  used,  and  much  of  it  is  used, 
as  pasture  land.  A  considerable  proportion  is  used  for  the  cutting 
of  wire  grass  for  the  manufacture  of  matting  and  a  large  total  area 
is  cut  over  for  hay.  Cultivation  is  limited  to  the  growing  of  corn, 
tame  grasses,  and  some  other  crops  in  an  experimental  waj-,  the  total 
acreage  of  deep  Peat  brought  under  the  plow  to  date  amounting  to 
less  than  200  acres.  Wild  ha}^  is  cut  in  August  and  September. 
Under  average  conditions  at  this  season  of  the  j'ear  even  areas 
ordinarily  wet  are  sufficiently  dry  to  permit  the  use  of  horses,  shod 
with  bog  shoes,  in  the  cutting  of  wire  hay,  the  spongy  surface 
material  being  sufficiently  firm  to  carry  the  teams,  even  though 
the  peaty  material  beneath  is  wet  and  plastic. 

The  yields  of  wild  hay  on  the  typical  Peat  range  from  about  three- 
fourths  ton  to  IJ  tons  per  acre.  Any  extensive  utilization  of  Peat 
for  the  growing  of  cultivated  crops  is  dependent  on  adequate  drain- 
age. The  land  is  ordinarily  most  completely  drained  in  the  fall,  and 
plowing  and  seed-bed  preparation  could  well  be  done  during  that 
season.  When  the  land  has  been  sufficiently  drained,  the  use  of 
heav}'  teams  in  cutting  hay  and  the  tramping  of  live  stock  in 
pasturing  are  beneficial  in  breaking  down  and  compacting  the  ma- 
terial. In  some  other  comities  heavy  traction  engines  are  employed 
on  Peat  to  compress  the  mass.  Where  there  is  an  abundance  of 
tough  roots  and  brush,  burning  has  been  found  beneficial.  This  must 
be  done  at  a  time  when  only  the  surface  3  or  4  inclies  is  dry  enough 
to  burn,  as  otherwise  fires  may  get  beyond  contiol.  According  to 
the  limited  investigation  that  has  been  made,  phosphatic  prepara- 
tions and  barnyard  manure  are  the  best  fertilizers  to  use  in  farming 
the  Peat  of  Anoka  County. 


28  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU    OP   SOILS,   1916. 

Prices  for  land  composed  of  the  typical  Peat  range  from  less  than 
$10  an  acre  to  as  much  as  $30  an  acre.  There  are  no  farmsteads  on 
this  land,  the  buildings  being  placed  on  adjoining  upland  soils. 

Peat^  sandy-subsoil  phase. — The  Peat,  sandy-subsoil  phase,  con- 
sists of  black  peat,  containing  a  small  percentage  of  sand,  to  a  depth 
of  10  to  18  inches,  underlain  by  a  grayish  fine  sandy  subsoil  which 
usually  rests  upon  a  sandy  substratum.  The  peaty  accumulation 
ranges  in  thickness  from  a  deep  deposit  in  some  places  to  a  very  thin 
layer  next  to  the  upland.  The  surface  material  ranges  considerably  in 
texture,  owing  to  various  admixtures  of  fine  sand.  With  good 
drainage  and  continued  cultivation  the  peaty  material  would  grad- 
ually be  worked  into  the  underlying  sand,  giving  rise  to  a  dark-gray 
or  black  sandy  surface  soil. 

The  Peat,  sandy-subsoil  phase,  is  not  extensive.  A  few  areas  lie  in 
the  east-central  part  of  the  county,  where  they  are  associated  with 
larger  areas  of  typical  Peat  and  are  either  surrounded  by  or  adjacent 
to  the  Merrimac  loamy  fine  sand.  As  in  case  of  the  typical  Peat  the 
surface  of  this  soil  is  nearly  level  and  the  drainage  prevailing  poor. 
The  phase  in  some  places  occurs  on  low  shelves  next  to  the  uplands, 
and  here  has  slightly  better  natural  drainage.  The  installation  of 
ditches  in  the  areas  of  the  deeper,  typical  Peat  would  materially  im- 
prove the  drainage  of  the  sandy-subsoil  phase. 

The  Peat,  sandj'-subsoil  phase,  supports  a  native  growth  similar 
to  that  on  the  typical  Peat,  except  that  tamarack  and  wire  grass  are 
almost  entirely  lacking.  The  phase  is  used  to  a  considerable  extent 
for  pastures  and  the  cutting  of  wild  hay.  Corn  and  tame  grasses  are 
grown  to  a  small  extent.  The  yields  of  wild  hay  range  from  three- 
fourths  to  1^  tons  per  acre.  Corn,  tame  grasses,  and  other  crops  give 
promise  of  good  yields  after  the  land  has  been  Avell  drained. 

This  soil  where  under  cultivation  may  safely  be  plowed  in  the  fall 
and  prepared  long  in  advance  of  planting.  Harrowing  or  otherwise 
loosening  the  surface  soil  in  the  spring  aids  in  warming  up  the  seed 
bed. 

Prices  of  Peat,  sandy-subsoil  phase,  have  about  the  same  range  as 
for  the  typical  Peat,  from  less  than  $10  to  about  $30  an  acre.  The 
phase  is  usually  sold  in  conjunction  with  upland  soils,  and  the  price 
depends  largely  on  the  state  of  improvement,  the  transportation  and 
market  facilities,  and  the  nearness  to  high-priaed  lands. 

Peat^  heavy-subsoil  phase. — The  Peat,  heavy-subsoil  phase,  con- 
sists of  black  sandy  peat  or  muck  10  to  18  inches  deep,  underlain  by 
a  grayish,  clayey  to  fine  sandy  clay  subsoil,  which  rests  upon  either 
a  clayey  or  a  fine  sandy  substratum.  As  in  the  case  of  the  sandy- 
subsoil  phase,  the  peaty  accumulation  is  deep  in  some  small  areas 
and  very  thin  in  some  places  next  to  the  uplands.  The  surface 
material  also  varies  widely  in  texture,  owing  to  various  admixtures 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF   ANOKA   COUNTY,   MINN.  29 

of  fine  sand  and  clay.  Under  good  drainage  conditions  and  with 
continued  cultivation  the  peaty  material  would  gradually  disappear, 
leaving  a  black,  mucky,  sandy  or  clayey  material. 

The  Peat,  heavy-subsoil  phase,  occurs  in  association  with  upland 
soils  of  clayey  texture  or  underlain  by  clayey  subsoils,  such  as  the 
Miami  and  Gloucester  soils.  It  is  of  small  extent,  occurring  in  a  few 
areas  in  the  southeastern  and  northwestern  parts  of  the  county. 
The  surface  is  nearly  level,  with  in  places  a  slight  slope  in  the  direc- 
tion of  natural  drainage. 

A  shelflike  position  of  some  areas  occurs  as  in  the  sandy-subsoil 
phase.  Drainage  is  slightly  better  here,  but  as  a  whole  the  phase  is 
poorly  drained. 

The  Peat,  heavy-subsoil  phase,  supports  a  native  growth  similar 
to  that  on  the  typical  Peat,  except  that  there  is  practically  no  tama- 
rack or  wire  grass.  Some  of  the  phase  is  being  drained.  It  is  used 
to  a  considerable  extent  as  pasture  and  the  cutting  of  wild  hay.  A 
small  total  area  is  used  in  growing  corn  and  tame  grasses.  The 
yields  of  wild  hay  probably  average  somewhat  higher  than  on  the 
sandy-subsoil  phase.  When  drained  it  will  be  more  productive  and 
more  durable.    The  land  ranges  in  price  from  $10  to  $30  an  acre. 

SUMMARY. 

Anoka  County  lies  southeast  of  the  center  of  the  State  of  Minne- 
sota, just  north  of  Minneapolis.  The  greater  part  of  the  county 
comprises  glacial-drift  and  outwash  plains,  and  has  a  rolling  to 
nearly  level  surface.  The  upland  ranges  in  elevation  from  850  to 
1,060  feet  above  sea  level.  The  Mississippi  River  flows  in  a  deep 
channel  along  the  southwestern  boundary  of  the  county,  and  is  bor- 
dered by  a  very  narrow  strip  of  alluvial  land.  A  large  part  of  the 
upland  is  traversed  by  peaty  depressions  and  marshes. 

The  population  of  Anoka  County  in  1910  was  12,493.  Anoka,  the 
county  seat  and  largest  town,  had  a  population  of  3,972.  The 
county  has  excellent  railroad  facilities.  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis, 
which  are  only  a  few  miles  from  the  southern  county  line,  furnish 
a  steady  demand  for  farm  products. 

The  winters  are  marked  by  periods  of  below-zero  weather,  alter- 
nating with  periods  of  thawing.  The  summers  are  short  and  warm. 
The  average  growing  season  is  163  days  in  length.  The  annual 
rainfall,  averaging  29.31  inches,  is  well  distributed  with  respect  to 
the  growing  season. 

Farming  began  in  Anoka  County  in  1848,  and  crop  production  has 
shown  a  steady  increase  since  that  year.  The  census  reports  nearly 
one-fourth  of  the  county  in  cultivation  in  1909,  the  total  value  of  all 
farm  crops  produced  in  that  year  amounting  to  $1,118,212.     Corn, 


30  ■  FIELD   OPERATIONS  OF   THE   BUREAU   OF   SOILS,   1916. 

potatoes,  and  haj^  are  the  most  important  crops.  The  income  from 
live-stock  industries  reached  the  sum  of  $566,137  in  1910. 

The  soils  of  Anoka  County  range  in  texture  from  light  sands  to 
loams.  The  soils  of  heavier  texture  are  productive  and  durable  under 
cultivation.  Commercial  fertilizers  have  not  been  used  to  keep  up 
the  productiveness,  but  manure  is  extensively  used  and  crop  rotations 
including  clover  are  followed  by  most  farmers. 

In  addition  to  Peat,  nine  types  of  soil  are  mapped  in  Anoka 
County,  representing  five  series. 

The  Miami  soils  are  light  colored,  derived  from  glacial  drift.  They 
have  a  higher  lime  content  than  the  other  upland  soils.  The  fine 
sandy  loam  and  the  loam  of  this  series  are  mapped.  These  are  very 
desirable  agricultural  soils,  and  about  90  per  cent  of  their  total  area 
is  farmed. 

The  Gloucester  series  comprises  light-colored  soils  derived  from 
glacial  drift  made  up  mainly  of  crystalline-rock  material.  They 
have  a  somewhat  lower  lime  content  than  those  of  the  Miami  series, 
but  do  not  differ  greatly  in  agricultural  value. 

The  Hinckley  soils  are  sandy  and  gravelly.  They  are  derived  from 
the  granitic  material  of  the  moraines,  and  have  been  reworked  in 
places  by  the  wind.  The  topography  ranges  from  gently  rolling  to 
rough  and  broken.  On  account  of  the  unfavorable  topogTaphy  and 
their  porous  nature,  these  soils  are  not  so  productive  as  the  other 
upland  types. 

The  Merrimac  soils  cover  the  greater  part  of  the  sand  plain.  They 
comprise  brown  to  dark-brown  surface  soils,  with  light-brown,  sandy 
subsoils.  They  are  retentive  of  moisture  and  productive.  The  sur- 
face varies  from  nearly  level  to  gently  undulating. 

The  Buckner  series  includes  the  soil  of  the  river  terraces.  The 
surface  soil  is  brown  to  dark  brown,  and  the  subsoil  light  brown  and 
sandy  in  texture.  Except  in  position,  the  Buckner  series  does  not 
differ  greatly  from  the  Merrimac.  Moisture  conditions  are  somewhat 
better  on  the  former. 

The  typical  Peat  consists  of  dark-brown  to  black,  partly  decom- 
posed organic  matter  more  than  3  feet  deep.  It  occurs  in  depressions 
and  has  poor  natural  drainage.  Two  divisions  are  shown  in  the 
shallow  Peat,  a  sandy-subsoil  phase  and  a  heavy-subsoil  phase.  The 
typical  soil  and  its  phases  together  cover  two-thirds  the  area  of  the 
county. 


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UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


D    001  108  481    1 


[Public  Resolution — No.  9.] 

JOINT  RESOLUTION  Amending  public  resolution  numbered  eight,  Fifty-sixth  Congress, 
second  session,  approved  February  twenty-third,  nineteen  hundred  and  one,  "  providing 
for  the  printing  annually  of  the  report  on  field  operations  of  the  Division  of  Soils, 
Department  of  Agriculture." 

Resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  tfie  United  States  of 
America  in  Congress  assembled,  That  public  resolution  numbered  eight,  Fifty- 
sixth  Congress,  second  session,  approved  February  twenty-third,  nineteen  hun- 
dred and  one,  be  amended  by  striking  out  all  after  the  resolving  clause  and 
inserting  in  lieu  thereof  the  following : 

That  there  shall  be  printed  ten  thousand  five  hundred  copies  of  the  report  on 
field  operations  of  the  Division-  of  Soils.  Department  of  Agriculture,  of  which 
one  thousand  five  hundred  copies  shall  be  for  the  use  of  the  Senate,  three  thou- 
sand copies  for  the  use  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  six  thousand  copies 
for  the  use  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture :  Provided,  That  in  addition  to  the 
number  of  copies  above  provided  for  there  shall  be  printed,  as  soon  as  the  manu- 
script can  be  prepared,  with  the  necessary  maps  and  illustrations  to  accompany 
it,  a  report  on  each  area  surveyed,  in  the  form  of  advance  sheets,  bound  in 
paper  covers,  of  which  five  hundred  copies  shall  be  for  the  use  of  each  Senator 
from  the  State,  two  thousand  copies  for  the  use  of  each  Representative  for  the 
congressional  district  or  districts  in  which  the  survey  is  made,  and  one 
thousand  copies  for  the  use  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 

Approved,  March  14,   1904. 

rOn  July  1,  1901,  the  Division  of  Soils  was  reorganized  as  the  Bureau  of  Soils.] 


Areai  surveyed  In  Minnesota. 


